Fifth Journey Day 18: The Dog Did Not Turn

Date: May 26, 2025
Location: Sisimiut, Greenland

This morning, I followed the path that goes along the ridge, just past the last row of houses. It felt like stepping out of a story — there were no signs or fences, just a steady hill and stone ground underfoot. The town disappeared behind me. Snow remained in the depressions of the rocks. The snow was soft and granular, and it was already starting to melt.

From above, the city of Sisimiut looks scattered but planned. Painted houses seem held in place by the wind and a quiet determination. Boats rest on wooden supports near the water. Some have their hulls stripped clean, while others are still half-covered in tarps, like ideas in progress. The harbor has a strange rhythm — calm on top, then sudden bursts of movement from gulls, fishermen, or machinery. There was no chaos, just a surprise.

I sat on a rock for almost an hour. I kept my hands in my pockets. I didn't feel like sketching. I watched clouds move like thoughts I didn't need to hold on to. Two dogs walked by. One was carrying something in its mouth, and the other was quiet and close behind. They didn't look at me.

I thought about stillness. Sometimes, stillness isn't about being unmoving. It's about letting everything move around you without trying to control it. I thought about that on the way back down.

There is no artwork today, at least not in the usual sense. But I started to notice something, and it will probably affect my painting soon. Today wasn't about recording. It was about getting back on track.

Tomorrow, I'll be ready to start again.